Motorcycle-support



J. G. LYDECKER.

MOTORCYCLE SUPPORT.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.27, 1919.

1,338,029, Patented Apr. 27, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

J. G. LYDECKER.

MOTORCYCLE SUPPORT.

APPLICATION FILED 1AN.27, 1919.

1 ,3 8,029 Patented Apr. 27, 1920.

2 $HEETSSHEET Z.

mdi 0 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN GEORGE LYDECKER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM F. CLEARY, OF HAWTHORNE, NEW JERSEY.

MOTORCYCLE-SUPPORT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 27, 1920.

Application filed January 27, 1919. Serial No. 273,310.

To all whom it may concern 7 Be it known that I, JOHN GEORGE LY- DECKER, a citizenof the United States, and resident of New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York,- have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Motorcycle-Supports, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

My present invention refers to a support for a motorcycle or similar machine, its purpose being to sustain said machine in a normal upright position when it is not running. The invention is equally applicable to all kinds of machines of this general type of whatever make or variety, whether having two wheels, three wheels, or otherwise, and whether heavy or light in their equipment, or intended for one or more passengers, and whether driven by foot power or an internal combustion engine, or to any other form of motorcycle. When such a machine is in operation and is running swiftly over the ground the speed will maintain it in equllibrium but when it comes to a stop it will obviously fall to one side or the other unless some device is provided to maintain or brace it in its upright position. With machines of this kind, it is absolutely essential that some such .device should be provided, and particularly is it necessary to have a support with those machines which have large weight, some of which, as now constructed, Weigh upward of four or, five hundred pounds.

In the adjustment of such a support with a heavy machine, a very large amount of force is necessarily expended with the forms of supports as they are now built, and it is extremely difiicult and a very arduous work for a person, unless he has unusual strength, to handle one of these heavy machines in such a manner as to enable the support to function therewith at the proper time. This is especially so since in the course of a day the machine will have to be carried a good many times by the use of said support. Therefore, the rider will many times a day be obliged to manipulate the weight of the machine, which is a tiresome job; besides, if the person is more or less feeble it may often become impossible to do this work.

My invention consists essentially in a cycle support which is built in such a form as to be provided with a leverage construction by means of which it is possible with very little effort to shift the weight of the cycle on to and off the support, and thus enable the machine to be sustained in its upright position by said support when not in use; and the invention also consists in numerous details and peculiarities in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various details of said support, substantially as will be hereinafter described and then more fully pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating my invention.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a motorcycle provided with my improved support, 'the same being shown as lifted into its idle position where it is carried by the frame when said support is not required for use, which is the case when the machine is doing its ordinary running, two intermediate positions of the support, assumed as it shifts from theidleposition, represented in full line in this view, to the supporting position, indicated in Fig. 2, being repre sented by dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same with the support in the position it occupies when it is functioning as a support and is upholding one wheel of the motorcycle from the ground and keeping the motorcycle in its upright position.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of my improved support in the position it occupies when not in use, as shown in Fig. 1, said support being shown separately from association with the motorcycle.

Fig. 4 is an inside elevation of said frame, as represented in Fig. 3, the same being taken on the line 4, 4 of Fig. 3 and being partly in section.

Fig. 5 is a partial side elevation of my improved support showing the interpivoted parts in the position that they relatively assume when the device is being changed from the idle position of Fig. 1 to its active relation vwith the motorcycle for the purpose of supporting the latter.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged partial sectional view of one of the side links, the foot frame and other parts, the same being the unfolded and supporting position in which the device is seen in Fig. 2; and this position ensues by pushing down the parts in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig. 5.

' Fig. 7 is a vertical detail section 011 the line 7, 7 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a crosssection on the line 8, 8 of 4:.

Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the different figures of the drawing.

A denotes one of the wheels of a motorcycle or similar machine in connection with which is arranged a mud-guard B and frame-pieces or frame-rods C, C, which frame-rods are attached to a liiearing D for the wheel A. All these parts are given merely, by way of explanation, as a specimen of a portion of a motorcycle of common type, in connection with which my improved support may be used. It is obvious that said support may be applied to all forms of existing machine now in use, and may be as readily adapted to an old machine as a new machine. I, therefore do not wish to be limited in respect to these applications or the breadth of the field of its use.

My improved support consists essentially of an angular or rectangular foot piece, (see Fig. 3), having a horizontal cross bar'Q, at each end of which is a bar 3, said bars 3 being parallel to each other and at right angles to the cross bar 2, and the foot piece being arranged to straddle the rim of wheel. A. There are also pair of parallel bars or rods 1, 1, which lie on opposite sides of the machine and extend from some portion of the frame thereof, as part I) to which they are pivoted on each side by suitable bolts or other devices 4;. These bars 1 lead to the foot piece. The ends of said bars 1, l will lie alongside of the aforesaid bars 3, 3

V for a greater or less distance, and they are loosely connected .therewith by means of short links 5, which are pivoted to the bars 3 of the rectangular foot piece, by means of pivots 6 and to the said bars 1 by means of pivots 7. It should be noted, therefore, that the bars 1 and the end bars 3 of the foot piece are capable of movement relatively to each other, these movements being controlled by the links 5, so that at one time the bars 1 may lie in close contact with an inclined position (see Fig. 2) at the time when the device is supporting the wheel, and at which time the foot piecelies on the ground with its arms 8 lying flat on the ground and the links 5 acting between the ends of the bars 1 and the foot piece for supporting one wheel of the motorcycle a short distance above the surface on which the motor cycle is standing.

These links 5 are each formed with a lateral projection, flange or web 8, having preferably a cleft edge 9, which fits down over the adjoining arm 8 of the foot piece when the support is unfolded, as shown in Fig. 5, and also when said support is in. its normal lifting position, as shown in Fig. 6 and also in Fig. 2. This cleft edge in its actual position is clearly shown in Fig. 7.

A spring 10 is fastened at 11 to some suitable point of each link 5, which point is some distance beyond a line which joins the pivotal centers 6 and 7; and said spring is also fastened to the arm 3 at 12 (see F .6). One purpose of the spring 10 is to nor mally hold the bars 1 in parallel association and contact with the arms 3 of the foot piece, as shown in Fig. 4, so that whenv the links 1 move laterally away from the arm 3 as the result of the unfolding of the mechanism the spring 10 will have to be overcome and extended, as shown in Fig.

Another purpose of springs 10 is to hold the links 5 in the position shown in Fig. 6 when the support is unfolded, and then the springs act to hold the cleft flanges tight down on the bars 3. l Furthermore I employ another spring 13 with each link 5 which is carried by a pin 14 on each of the links 5 at a point suitably placed between the pivotal centers 6 and 7 of said link. One end 15 of this spring 13 bears against the end of the arm 1, while the other end 16 of the spring 13 bears against a portion of the extension or projection 8. The function of this spring 13 is to hold the members 1 and 3 separated from each other in the position that they occupy in Fig. 5 while'the unfolding of the mechanism is in progress, so as to permit plenty of room for pressing the foot upon the foot piece or corrugated end 3? of the arm 3. It will also be noted that I find it convenient to employ clips 17 which are pinned at 18 to the links 1 and which embrace with a spring clasping action'the arms 3, as shown in Figs. 4 and 8. The purpose of the spring clips is to'temporarily hold the parts 1 and 3 in close association, but it will be obvious that when the mechanism is unfolded the tension of the spring clips will be easily overcome. The CllPSxELl' so made, as shown in Fig. 8, as to permit reengag'ement when it is desired to restore the ,parts, as shown in Fig.4... 7

20 indicates. a projection from the frameof the cycle against which bears the bar 1 when turned to the position indicated in Fig. 2. This projection holds the bar 1 rigidly in supporting position. There may be one of these projections on each side of the cycle and they may be of an suitable construction and disposition to a ord stops or abutments for the bars 1. Most motorcycles as now constructed have the bearings D formed with projections that serve the purpose of the projection just described.

The outer end of each bar 1 is shaped to form a shoulder that is arranged to bear against a stop or abutment of the link 5, as

. for instance, against a portion of the block or web 8, as indicated at 21 in Fig. 6. This gives'a stable support to the cycle when the parts are in the position indicated in Figs. 2 and 6.

I will now explain the way in which the device is operated for the purpose of performing its function in upholding the machine when the latter is at rest. When the machine stops the rider will give a gentle push to the folded support occupying the position shown in Fig. 1 where it is normally held up in a horizontal position by means of a clip or catch 19 on the mud-guard and 1 the device will be released and will be allowed to drop into the general position indicated by the dotted lines at the left in Fig. 1 where the foot-piece rests on the ground. The rider will then simply draw the machine backward, rolling the wheels on the ground until the rear wheel passes over the bottom piece 2 of the foot piece, causing the parts of the support to assume the position indicated by the dotted lines at the right in Fig. 1, with the side arms 3 in a vertical position and the links or bars 1 disconnected from close association with the end arms 3 and in the position shown in Fig. 5 where they are slightly separated by means of the springs 13, it being noted that, at this time, the links 5 have been turned over from the position shown in Fig. 4 to that shown in Fig. 5 where the edge of the projection 8, that is to say, the cleft edge thereof, has "been brought into contact with the edge of the arm 3, and the springs 10, which in Fig. 4 act to hold the foot piece in close association with the bars 1, have now in consequence of the shifting of the links 5 been thrown across the center of the pivot 6, as shown in Fig. 5, for the purpose of holding the said links with their extensions in close contact with the arms 3 of the foot piece. The next step in the operation is to place the foot upon the end 3 of one of the side pieces 3 and press said piece in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig. 5 until the arms 3 lie in a horizontal position on the ground, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 6. In doing this the links 5 lift upon the bars 1 through their engagement therewith at 21, with the result that the rear wheel A of the motorcycle is removed slightly from the ground. This lifting of the bars 1 by the links 5 continues until the links take the position shown in Fig. 6where the bars 1 are in contact at their ends with the cut-out portions of the links 5, as clearly shown in Fig. 6. The motorcycle is now propped up by the support and is held off the ground and is kept from tilting in any direction or falling, so that it can remain in this condition until again required for use. lVhen it is desired to again fold and restore the support to its idle position all the user needs to do is to lift one or the other of the arms 3 of the foot piece, the result of which will be to quickly lower the wheel A to the surface of the ground and to place the parts together in the position shown in Fig. 5, after which a slight for- Ward movement of the motorcycle will place the parts again in the position shown in Fig. 4.

1t will be seen from the foregoing description that the part designated 8 in the drawings is a block which, when the parts are in position to support a motor cycle, as

represented in Figs. 2 and (3, is interposed between the bars 1 and the ground-engaging support or foot. piece, holding these parts securely in supporting positions. The block 8 is supported by the foot piece 2 and is engaged by the ends of the bars 1, the form of block shown, as has been described, being one that is integral with the links 5, that pivotally unite bars 1 and the foot piece. lVhen the support is in active position, as represented in Fig. 2, the links 5 are substantially in line with the bars 1, the foot piece then occupying an angular position with reference to the bars, and the blocks 8 maintain these parts in the said position. \Vhen the support is in inactive position as represented in Fig. 1, the side arms 3 of the foot rest are substantially parallel with, and preferably lie alongside of, the pivot bars 1, as shown; but when the parts are adjusted to active supporting position the side arms 3 of the foot piece occupy an angular position with reference to the pivot bars 1 and are adapted to lie upon the ground, thus giving a long support, in the direction of the length of the vehicle to which the sup port is applied, instead of a more narrow transverse support, as would be afforded by the cross piece of the foot piece alone, as is common in supports ofv the general kind to which mine belong.

Many changes in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts may be made without exceeding the scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A support for motor cycles and the like consisting in combination with the machine frame and an angular foot piece, of bars pivoted to the machine frame, intermediate links between the foot piece and the said bars, one end of each link being connected with the outer end of one bar and the other end to the angular foot piece, and means for maintaining the foot piece and bars rigidly with reference to each other when the foot piece is moved to ground-engaging, supporting position.

2. A support for motor cycles and the like comprising a ground-engaging foot piece, bars pivoted to the frame of the article to be supported, links pivotally uniting the foot piece and bars so the angular relations of these united parts may be changed, and blocks arranged to occupy a position between the bars and foot piece to. hold them in relatively rigid relationship when the parts of the support are moved to operative position.

3. A support for motor cycles and the like comprising a ground-engaging foot piece, bars pivoted to the sides of the frame of the article to be supported, links pivotally uniting the foot piece and the bars, one end of each link being pivoted to the outer end of one of the bars and the other end pivoted to the foot piece, the foot piece being arranged when the parts are adjusted to inactive position to be substantially parallel with the bars and when adjusted to operative supporting position to occupy a position at an angle to the bars, and means for positively holding the foot piece and bars rigidly with reference to each other when the parts have been adjusted to active, supporting position.

4. A support for motor cycles and the like comprising bars pivoted to the sides of the frame of the article to be supported, an angular foot piece having sine arms united by a cross bar, links pivotally connected respectively with the bars pivoted to the frame and to the side arms of the foot piece, the said connections permitting the bars and foot piece to be folded together in inactive position or to be moved to an angular position with reference to each other whereby the side arms of the foot piece are adapted to rest upon the ground when the support as a whole is swung about the pivots of the bars, and means for holding the foot piece in the said angular position, and rigidly with reference to the pivot bars,

diate links pivoted to the bars and the footpiece, and having lateral extensions to bear against the foot-piece when the parts occupy their active position; 7

6. A support for motorcycles and the like 7 consisting in the combination with the machine frame and an angular foot-piece, of bars pivoted to said frame, and intermediate links pivoted to the bars and the foot piece, having projections whose edges are at an angle to the direction of said links and adapted to bear on the foot-piece when the parts are unfolded.

7. A motorcycle support, consisting of a rectangular frame open at one side and straddling a wheel of a motorcycle, bars pivoted to the motorcycle frame, links pivoted to the lower extremities of the side bars andalso to the rectangular frame, springs fastened to the links and to the rectangular frame and means for holdingthe said pivotally united parts of the support rigidly with reference to each other when the parts have been brought to active supporting position.

8. In a motorcycle support, the combina tion with a motorcycle having wheels and a frame, of a foot device having parallel side arms, side bars pivotally mounted on the frame, links pivoted to the side bars and the side arms, and formed with projections adapted to bear at times on the said side arms.

9. In a motorcycle support, the combination with a motorcycle having wheels and a frame, of a foot device having parallel side arms, side. bars pivotally mounted on the frame, links pivoted to the side bars and the side arms, and formed with projections adapted to hear at times on the said side" arms,'springs attached to thelink projections and to the side arms of the foot-piece and springs carried by pins in the link proj ections and bearing on the ends of the movable side bars In testimony whereof I hereunto affix' my signature.

JOHN GEORGE LYDEOKER. 

